why healthy gums matter · 2019-08-22 · healthy gums look pink and clean, and hold our teeth...

12 May 2019, Gum Health Day - an initiative of the EFP

gumhealthday.efp.org

Diabetes & prediabetes

Smoking

Healthy gums, beautiful smile

Why healthy gums matter

because of poor oral hygieneDENTAL PLAQUE

Secondary risk factors for gum disease are:

Medication Pregnancyhormones

Obesity & unhealthy diet

Stress & other factors

Gum diseases can go unnoticed for years even if they are quite serious, as they

• are chronic • can cause tooth loss

• are related to other dangerous diseases

• are the most common medical conditions among adults

Luckily, they are can be successfully prevented and treated, so start by taking action now:

Severe periodontitis alone is the 6th most pervasive condition

8 out of 10 people aged 35+ suffer

from gum disease

Healthy gums can make your life better by:Preventing your teeth

from falling or loosening

Helping you to prevent, detect, tackle, or control a series of systemic diseases

Gum disease represents a major cause of health expenditure nationally & globally

Visit your dentist or periodontist

Control your risk factors

Brush your teeth twice a day

Preventing irreversible damage to your teeth & gums

Keeping your face free from deformation

Saving your lovely, natural smile

Reinforcing healthy habits such as fighting obesity or quitting smoking

Avoiding aesthetic problems

Avoiding pronunciation problems

Avoiding chewing problems

Avoiding bad breath

Heart disease

Chronic obstructivepulmonary disease

Cerebrovascular disease

Rheumatoid arthritis

Chronic kidney disease

Type 2 diabetesObesity

PERIODONTITISSEVERE

PERIODONTITIS

4-7 mm deepgum pocket

2-3 mm deepgum pocket

GINGIVITISPERI-

IMPLANTITIS

8+ mm deepgum pocket

4+ mm deepgum pocket

Gum diseases

Healthy gums look pink and clean, and hold our teeth firmly and effectively - they do not bleed or swell, and keep nicely stuck to our teeth without gum “pockets”.

At the same time, healthy gums are essential for a beautiful smile and for allowing us to express ourselves socially with self-confidence.

But unfortunately there is a threat to our gum health: